Review: The Caged Graves

Title: The Caged Graves
Author: Dianne Salerni
Publisher: Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Released: 14th May 2013
Rating: 2 of 5 stars

It is 1867, and Verity Boone is excited to return to her hometown of Catawissa, Pennsylvania.  Finally, after years of separation, she will be with her father again and, not only that, she will also meet her fiancé, the man she has thus far only known through letters.  Yet her welcome is not as warm as she expected.  Her father is as good as a stranger, and Nate, her fiancé, comes across as very different to how he did in his letters - more aloof and with apparently nothing in common with Verity.  But even worse is the discovery that her mother and aunt's graves are within cages, and not even in the cemetery itself - they're buried just outside.  Determined to find out why, Verity gets no answers, only rumours of witchcraft and buried treasure...and suddenly a situation in which her own life is at risk.

After such a promising premise, the plot for this unfortunately fell flat for me.  Where I was hoping for mystery and intrigue, I instead got a storyline that was overly simplistic, so much so that I wondered how Verity could possibly be so blind to facts that were right in front of her.  This was not a problem at first, Salerni's writing keeping me slightly curious and, if not completely eager to read on, still far from impatient.  This soon wore off, however, and I reached the point where I was reading simply for the sake of finishing the book.  The villains, such as they were, were not believable in the least.  Truly, they were quite ridiculous, and I didn't understand how I was supposed to view them as a real threat.  Partly because of this, what was meant to be the climax came across as messy.  Its structure - or lack thereof - had me reading incredulously and with no particular attachment to anybody.

The characters were as much of a letdown.  Verity was likeable enough, and I felt some sympathy towards her purely because of her situation, yet she was unremarkable.  Nate was somewhat frustrating, although the romance between them did allow for some lighter, sweeter moments which made for a pleasant change and an easier read than it might otherwise have been.  This was not significant enough to be a wholly redeeming factor, though, and to make matters worse, Nate was not the only love interest.  Yes, another one.  I confess, I sighed inwardly as soon as the love triangle made itself apparent.  These things are becoming even more tiresome to me than I thought.  The secondary characters, too, were as unexceptional as the protagonist.

I honestly did expect more of this, especially as the element of the caged graves is based on real ones that are still in Catawissa today.  Witchcraft and buried treasure seemed like a basis for excitement and some action, but sadly this was not so.  While this was not completely terrible - indeed, there are parts more well-written than others - this was ultimately a disappointment.

Waiting on Wednesday (#25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.  I can't believe how long it's been since I've done one of these, but here we go!

Title: Allegiant (Divergent #3)
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: 22nd October 2013

One choice will define you.
What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.



Do I even need to say anything?  Are words really necessary here?  Just...cover!  Veronica Roth!  Conclusion to one of the best series ever! *flails* 

What about you?  Excited?  Sad that it's the end?  Nervous about how it's going to end?  I know I'm all three.  Are you all looking forward to the movie?  I'll probably watch it at some point, but I'm always really worried about what they're going to do to the book to get it on screen.  For me, the movies are never as good as the books.

And finally, what are you all waiting on this week?  Let me know and link me up!

Book Blast & Giveaway: Never Too Far

Title: Never Too Far

Author: Thomas Christopher
Publisher: Kalmaha Press
Released: 10th May 2012

A harrowing story of love and survival.

In a future of scarce resources, where the possession of gas and diesel is punishable by death, a teenage boy and a pregnant girl must save their impoverished family. They risk their lives on a terrifying journey to sell stolen fuel on the black market.

Mary surprised Joe by knocking his arms away. She was stronger than she looked. Then she swept her legs off the bed and sprang to her feet. She took two steps and turned to face him as if to prove there was nothing wrong with her. But there was definitely something wrong. She wavered a moment. Her already white face turned ghostly. Her eyelids trembled. She seemed to realize she was becoming faint, and what that meant.

“I’m fine,” she said. “You don’t have to go.”

Joe got ready to catch her in case she fell, but somehow she held herself steady.

“It’s okay,” Joe said. “Just sit down. I will go find some food.”

Joe inched toward her. He was afraid to grab her again because she might try to wrench free once more and really fall. When she coughed, her little shoulders jerked and her round stomach jumped. Her head was drooped low and her hair hung down so he couldn’t see her face at all.

“Come on, lay down,” Joe said.

She didn’t move. Joe stepped toward her, but before he could put his arms around her, she tilted forward and rested the crown of her head against his chest. He slid his arms along the sides of her hard belly and around her waist. Then he shifted her toward the bed again. She moved like a bundle of empty sacks in his arms. He set her gently on the bed before he bent down to lift her feet onto the sheets.

After he sat in the chair, Mary asked him, “What if you don’t come back?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Joe said.

“How do you know?”

“I just know. You have to trust me.”

Purchase your copy today!

__________________________________________________________________

Thomas Christopher grew up in Iowa, where he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. After living in Seattle and Montana, he received his MFA at Western Michigan University. He has published short stories in The Louisville Review, The MacGuffin, Redivider, Small Spiral Notebook, Cooweescoowee, and other places. He was also awarded an Irving S. Gilmore Emerging Artist Grant and was a finalist for the Matthew Clark Prize in Fiction. Currently, he lives in Wisconsin with his wife Jessica and their son Holton.

Website † Facebook † Twitter † GoodReads

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Review: The 5th Wave

I read this one a couple of months ago, so apologies if my review isn't up to par.

Title: The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1)
Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Penguin
Released: 7th May 2013
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

When it comes to TV, I'm very selective with my aliens.  Star Wars?  Not for me.  Doctor Who?  I'm glued to my seat.  But when it comes to books, one mention of aliens and I'd better have that book ASAP.  That, coupled with the never-ending stellar reviews, made me eager to get my grabby hands on this as soon as possible.  And when I did, I was only able to put it down with great difficulty so that I could converse with my awesome buddy reader, Rebekah from Reflections of a Bookworm (her review here).  I say converse, but there might have been some fangirling too.

Humanity is no longer the same.  The world is no longer the same.  Four waves have come and gone, in which billions of people have been killed.  And still no-one knows who's alien and who's not, because the aliens have taken the appearance of humans.  They could be your old neighbour.  Your old teacher.  One rule becomes clear: trust no-one.  There's safety in solitude.  This is the rule that Cassie lives by, even as she travels across the country in search of her brother Sammy, who she promised she would find when they got separated.  It's a rule she doesn't intend to let go of.  Until she meets Evan Walker.

The 5th Wave is told to us in multiple POVs; the first time it happened I was a little confused because I wasn't expecting it and there was nothing to tell me that it had changed, but after that I found it easy to keep up with whose perspective was happening when.  These I thought worked really well, and the flashbacks, too.  The only thing I would say about the flashbacks, and I'm not even sure if this is actually a complaint, was that they could be quite long; I remember one in particular where I was reading through the flashback and then it switched back to the present day, leaving me slightly startled because I'd completely forgotten that what I'd been reading had been in the past.  But overall the writing style was stunning.  Without a doubt the perspectives I enjoyed the most were those of Cassie and Sammy.  Cassie was an incredibly tough protagonist, and I loved the humour she brought in.  Admittedly her behaviour when she met Evan was somewhat questionable, but really that was a small thing amongst a number of strong points.  As for Sammy, he was just adorable, and I loved that he and his big sister had such a close relationship.  That's not to say I didn't enjoy the other perspectives; each one was really enjoyable to read, including Evan's.

As for the plot and the world, well...it was amazing.  The concept of the waves was really intriguing, and actually presented in a realistic manner.  Such amazingly detailed world-building made this book dark and gritty, and I also appreciated Yancey's exploration of the impact the invasion had on humanity, the questions and the fear that it brought.  Hope is extinguished in this world, because hope can get you killed; so can trust.  And how long can you live without trusting anyone?  What does it mean for the human race that they were never alone, and that they're now fighting for survival on their own planet?  Will any of them make it out alive?  How important are people really, in the grand scheme of things?  How big?  It is abundantly clear that the author has thought everything through and knows exactly where he wants his story, and his characters, to go.  Certainly he ended this first instalment not on a cliffhanger, but with enough to leave us crying out for more.

The 5th Wave, then, is simply mind-blowing.  As with all books that are surrounded by hype, I found myself slightly wary on starting it, but this truly is deserving of all the praise out there.  I was immediately engrossed by the world presented to me, and I enjoyed each point of view as it came.  This is definitely one I'll be coming back to.

Warning: Long Post Ahead. Proceed With Caution.

This is actually a much longer post than I anticipated, so if you want to get to the crux of it, feel free to skip the first few paragraphs.

*squeals, dances, spins, hugs, cries, collapses into bed and promptly falls asleep*

Some time later...

Hey, guys!!

OK, so you know how I was at Hogwarts, and had to fight to the death in this thing they called the Hunger Games, and then I got stuck in this tiny little room where my head was filled with numbers, counting off the days and wondering if and when I was going to die and-

Wait.  What do you mean none of that stuff happened to me?  They totally did!  Maybe my school wasn't magical, and maybe my fight to the death had nothing to do with a corrupt society and everything about actually making it into uni, and, OK, while I was counting down the days and weeks in my tiny little bedrom it had nothing to do with me possibly being executed - but the possibility of death did exist!  I could have died from - from - exhaustion, or stress, or revisionitis...You know, stuff like that.  The principles still apply!

Oh, fine.  They're nothing alike.  Although I could draw some interesting parallels between exams at school and the way the Hunger Games work, if you were interested.  But I can see you're not.  You're wondering if school has actually made me completely insane and when I'm going to get to the point of this post.

Some of you may have seen my unofficial announcement on Twitter - more of a painfully loud yell, really - that I am now done with school.  Finally, after months of essay practice, and after-school lessons, and my parents looking at me in shock when I told them what time I would be/had been getting up in the morning to work or revise, my exams are over - and not just exams; I am actually done with school in its entirety now.  I do have uni, but school itself as it stands is over.  We had our leavers' event yesterday evening, which was really nice - food, speeches, lots of photos, although I don't think it's really sunk in for most of us yet.  The day of my last exam, a couple of hours after I got home, I found myself wondering if my exams were truly over.  And it's hard to really grasp that yesterday I saw some of my friends, some of my peers, for the last time, and the others very near to the last time.

What this does mean, of course, is that I can also finally come back to my blog.  I seriously want to thank all of you for your patience, for being understanding and supportive, just for being your amazing selves.  I can't wait to start putting more stuff up here and making my way around your posts and, by extension, commenting to the point where all you'll see when you open up your inbox is my name.  And I know how much you can't wait for that. *smiles brightly*  I do have one more favour to ask you, however, which is to just bear with me for another week so that I have a chance to start getting into my galleys and writing those reviews. Since it is the holidays I'll be trying to post, if not every day, certainly as near to that as I can make it.

Also, do you guys remember that letter I wrote to Juliette as a way of trying something new?  Well, the response I got from that really overwhelmed me, so I decided to make it a monthly feature.  Each month I will write a letter to a character, most probably from a book I love.  So that's something new to look forward to.  I hope.

Finally, yesterday was my blogoversary! *throws confetti* I am so sorry I didn't have anything amazing lined up for you guys; my impatience and excitement at creating a blog last year prevented rational thinking about timing, and the result is these few lines at the end of a horrendously long post.  I can't believe it's been a year already.  The time has gone by so fast and I've made some incredible friends.  Thank you to each and every one of my readers.

If you've actually made it all the way through this post, I ♥ you and send you hugs and chocolate chip cookies.  But I send them anyway, because I can't imagine you really chose to sit and read through all of my rambling, and I love you. 

Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Of Darkness and Crowns

Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2)

by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date: September 1, 2013

Cover artist: Steven Novak

Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

***WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOK ONE***

 

Summary from Goodreads:

The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.

Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.

When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?

Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older. 

***Excerpt (Caben’s POV)***

The Crusher grinds to a halt. I’m propelled forward, and my head smacks the low-hanging ceiling of the front compartment.

    “Damn, you fool!” I palm my throbbing forehead, eyeing the driver of the Crusher—the machines I now call by their Otherworlder name.

    “Sorry, my liege,” he says, backing against his seat, farther away from the glowing ribbons circling my fingers. 

    Ignoring him, I study the luminous white—like the surface of the moon—crawling beneath my skin, and marvel at the power. My power. Had I possessed it that day the Cavan Army forced me from my home, they never could have done so easily. But then, I never would have obtained this power. Ironic. 

    “Just drive,” I tell him. I take a seat on the front bench, away from the foul stench emanating from the back compartment—our diversion tactic that will gain me entry into my palace, where I know she’s being kept.

    The glow beneath my skin illuminates brighter, reminding me of her skin. I curl my fingers into a tight ball.

    The battle up ahead is only part of my plan, one that I know Kaliope will fall for. I need the reserves away from the palace. Then we’ll take care of her Nactue once we’re inside. My back molars clamp down hard at the thought of her—a mix of something like fire and nausea invading my stomach.

    At one time, I felt things for the black-haired beauty. I chuckle to myself. Well, at least my groin did. Just thinking of her body makes me ache, and I have to adjust myself. But that was when I was weak, when I only thought and felt with that weakness. As much as I hated my father for thinking me too feeble to rule, he was right. I was pathetic.

    Bale freed me. Released the part of me that I kept buried, locked away deep down, and I no longer fear anything. I think of everything that once made me shudder or quake with dread and laugh. It’s so simple.

    Without fear, there is only freedom.

    Power.

    And if I free Bale completely, releasing her from within my being and making her corporeal, she’ll bestow me with even more power. I don’t care what the dark goddess does or where she goes once I restore Empress Iana’s relic. I don’t give a damn what happens to the maggoty Otherworlders or their realm.

    I just want her out of my mind. And I want the power.

    Then I’ll set my sights on Perinya, and on gaining what’s mine.

    A deep cackle fills my head, deep and sultry.

    “Quiet, woman.” I roll my eyes. We’ve come to a compromise, the goddess and I, that she may remain within my mind, but she’s to keep quiet. I got tired of her constant lectures and angry rants about her sisters. She does stay silent…for the most part. But the sooner I get her out of my head, the better.

    Having a woman fill your thoughts is a weakness in itself. A sudden flash of a smiling, laughing Kal blurs my vision, and I shake my head.

    There’s only one way to rid my thoughts of that woman.

    Kill her.

    “Burrow, leach,” I command the driver. “We’re coming up on the battle. Go underground.”

    “Yes, my liege.”

    Tonight, I plot. Find a way into the capital of Perinya and into my home. And then take back what’s mine. The goddess can have what she wants. I’m only interested in claiming what’s mine.

No one will ever take anything away from me again.

    Don’t get in my way, Kal.

    I shake my head harder, trying to quiet the pesky thoughts that always spring up when I think of her. Something left over from before—a residual feeling, an effect she has on me.

    It won’t be there much longer. I smile, and Bale laughs.

 

 

***

Of Silver and Beasts (Goddess Wars #1)

by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date:  April 19th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different.

When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.

Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.

New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

Of Silver and Beasts is on sale right now for only $.99.  Get your copy here:

Where to find Trisha:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | YouTube Channel 

***Bonus Material***

Don’t miss out on the bonus scene of Astarte’s Wrath – Bath Scene in Xarion’s POV

Book Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway: Come What May

Title: Come What May (Heartbeat #2)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle ($2.99) 
Paperback available at: Amazon ($6.99)





Book Description:

Adam is through with love.

He unravels blaming himself for what happened with Katie.

His final moments with her echo through his nightmares.

She owns him body and soul.

To dull the pain, Adam invites a string of women into his bed. Fueled by alcohol and desperation, his meaningless hook-ups provide little comfort. When he closes his eyes, it's Katie he sees.

The only one who helps to ease his guilt somewhat is Jada. But as his new ambulance partner, Adam considers her off limits. He doesn't want to get seriously involved with anyone, much less her. Yet he can't stop fantasizing about the feel of her caramel skin against his.

Despite his intentions, Adam's bond with Jada deepens as they respond to a series of emotional calls. Their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But how can he give his heart to Jada when it still belongs to Katie?

Excerpt:

But I'm unsure of where this is going.  Is he trying to open up or just making idle conversation?  Whatever it is, it's not enough for me.  I crouch, hanging my legs over the side.  A cool breeze issues from the waterfall.  Its hypnotic rhythm is so relaxing.  I can stretch out right here and fall asleep.  I lean back on my elbows and close my eyes against the sun.  So I'm startled when something smacks me in the face.

    It's Adam's t-shirt.  He's standing before me in nothing but his jeans.  "Care for a swim, Jada?"  Laughing, he peers over the edge.  All I see are the broad lines of his back.  It doesn't get any sexier than that.

    "You're going to jump into that tiny little pool of water?"  My pulse is racing, but somehow I keep my voice steady.

    "No, we're going to climb down together.  But you're going to have to lose some of that clothing first."  His gaze runs across the length of my body, and I'm on fire.

    "If you think I'm going to strip down..."

    I shut up when I realize he's bending over me.  "Well, if you can rid yourself of these muddy shoes for starters."  He undoes the laces and gently slips them off.  My breathing gets heavy when his fingers slide up to remove my sock.  He doesn't stop there.  On his knees before me, his touch glides up my leg as he rolls the cuff of my pants.

    "That takes care of the bottom half.  Now what about the top?" I ask brazenly.  I'm fighting to regain control of the situation, but it's a lost cause.

    He pulls me up with him, and our bodies are so close together.  He grips my waist and I start to get dizzy.  Drawing me in, I'm surprised when he tugs at the fabric of my shirt, untucking it in a series of quick motions.  His actions cause my chest to rub against his.  My legs get shaky and I think I'm going to have to grab onto him for support.  But I resist and somehow keep my hands to myself.  Slowly, he unfastens the last two buttons and ties the shirt at my waist.  His fingertips linger over the exposed skin of my midriff.  His touch is driving me wild.  I can't take much more of this.

    Stepping back, I feel so exposed even though I'm not showing that much skin.  He's practically naked in front of me and he doesn't seem embarrassed at all.  It's like he wanted to bring me to some secluded spot in order to seduce me.  Was this his plan all along?  I'm so confused.  Nothing is ever clear with him.  It's impossible to figure out what's going through his mind and why he's practically taking my clothes off in the middle of the woods.

    And that's my problem.  I kind of like it.  His unpredictability keeps me guessing, and I've never been so turned on.  I'm practically panting before him, wishing his hands would explore every inch of me.  But for some reason, it seems like there's an invisible barrier separating us.  He teases me but doesn't take it further.  And all that does is make me want him more.  I'm not the type to pursue a guy, but I'd put myself out there for him if I knew that was what he was after.  But what if it's not?  We do have to work together, and things can get really awkward between us if I'm wrong.

    A shadow of a frown crosses his face when he sees me back away from him.  Whatever was happening in that moment is over - I can't tell if he's disappointed or relieved.  His chest rises and falls as he clenches his fists.  The sheer masculine beauty of his sculpted torso is right in front of me.  Yet he appears so fragile.  Like one hasty word from will break him.  We're so close.  If only I knew his true intention.  Is he just playing with me or is he after something more?

    "C'mon, let's cool off."  But I can't allow myself to get that close to him again.  My thoughts scatter just picturing him against me in the water.  With my inhibitions lowered, I'll be too tempted.  If I let down my guard and give into him, I'll only regret it later when he acts like nothing's changed between us.

    "Nah, you go ahead.  I'm just going to stick my feet in."  The creases in his brow deepen, but I don't stop.  "If I have any hope of salvaging this uniform, I don't think it'll take more wear and tear."  It's the lamest excuse ever, but it's all I have to go with.

    "Suit yourself."  He's pissed as he makes his way down the rocky incline.  He doesn't even wait for me.  What girl wouldn't want to fool around with him in the water after all that?  Who would ever turn him down?

    Only me.

 

  

The first book of the HEARTBEAT series is only 99 cents on Amazon! 

Click cover to purchase.

Random Things about Author, Faith Sullivan:

- She was so much smarter as a teenager.
- She's a slow reader.
- She tends to like a book more for its characters rather than its plot.
- She appreciates people who are genuinely kind and come through when you need them.
- As a creative person, she's not always fun to live with, but she keeps things interesting.
- She misses the days when all she had was a rotary phone that didn't even have an answering machine.
- She's a child of the 1980s, and a teenager of the 1990s.
- She loves her dog.
- She likes to travel and see new places - when her limited budget allows.
- She thinks in another lifetime she lived in the UK somewhere by the coast.
- When she feels an emotion, she feels it deeply. It's a curse.
- She has an overactive imagination. Writing helps alleviate that problem.
- Nine times out of ten, she believes a good book trumps reality.

Author Links: Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

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